Jobs / Architecture and engineering / 17-2171.00
Petroleum Engineers
Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.
- US jobs
- 18,060
- Median wage
- $144,910 a year
- Job family
- Architecture and engineering
Can agents do the work of petroleum engineers?
We read the evidence for the whole job family, Architecture and engineering: Some tasks (first measured in the last 12 months)
Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.
Evidence: HWE-Bench, 79.9% of tasks completed.
Direct evidence that disagrees: Parametric CAD Bench V3, 9% of tasks fully completed (Perfect tasks).
0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.
- 7%Direct organizational operations, activities, or proceduresNot measured
- 6%Resolve personnel or operational problemsNot measured
- 6%Present research or technical informationNot measured
- 6%Maintain operational recordsNot measured
- 6%Evaluate designs, specifications, or other technical dataNot measured
- 6%Manage control systems or activitiesNot measured
- 5%Coordinate with others to resolve problemsNot measured
- 5%Analyze performance of systems or equipmentNot measured
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in architecture and engineering, not always this occupation's tasks.
Direct evidence
Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.
- 61%Claude Opus 5.5 (max) with Claude Code 2.1.280 · 24 Sep 2026Strong
Also relevant
These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.
- 64.8%Claude Code + Opus 5.5 (max) · 6 Oct 2026Strong
Context only
These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- Specify and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery.
- Monitor production rates, and plan rework processes to improve production.
- Maintain records of drilling and production operations.
- Analyze data to recommend placement of wells and supplementary processes to enhance production.
- Assist engineering and other personnel to solve operating problems.
- Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing, or well surveys.
- Develop plans for oil and gas field drilling, and for product recovery and treatment.
- Assess costs and estimate the production capabilities and economic value of oil and gas wells, to evaluate the economic viability of potential drilling sites.
- Confer with scientific, engineering, and technical personnel to resolve design, research, and testing problems.
- Interpret drilling and testing information for personnel.
- Coordinate activities of workers engaged in research, planning, and development.
- Write technical reports for engineering and management personnel.
Other job titles for this occupation (35)
Completion Engineer · Drilling Engineer · Engineer · Operations Engineer · Petroleum Engineer · Petroleum Production Engineer · Project Production Engineer · Project Reservoir Engineer · Reservoir Engineer · Reservoir Engineering Consultant · Certification Engineer · Completions Engineer · Design Engineer · Exploration Engineer · Gas Distribution Engineer · Gas Engineer · Gas Turbine Engineer · Logging Engineer · Mining and Oil Field Equipment Design Engineer · Mining and Oil Field Equipment Test Engineer · Mining and Oil Well Equipment Research Engineer · Mud Engineer · Natural Gas Analyst · Natural Gas Engineer · Oil and Gas Engineer · Oil Drilling Engineer · Oil Exploration Engineer · Oil Well Engineer · Petroleum Supply Specialist · Pipeline Engineer · Prospecting Observer · Research Engineer · Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE) · Test Engineer · Well Surveying Engineer